US Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien said the US is very concerned by the Kosovo government’s decision to ban the use of the Serbian dinar.

In an interview with the Voice of America in Albanian, he said this Kosovo government’s attitude has thrown into question its partnership with the United States.

I don’t make vague threats in public and I would say that if we are not treated as a partner, we will not treat the government of Kosovo as a partner either, O’Brien told the Voice of America, KoSSev reported.

His message to Pristina is that Kosovo should withdraw the decision on the dinar.

He added that, although the United States advised the Kosovo government against such action, it decided to implement it without considering the advice of key partners.

The US official explained that modern European countries resolve such issues through preliminary dialogue, and inform their citizens in a timely manner.

O’Brien said that he had frequent contact with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti before the Central Bank of Kosovo’s issuance of the decision, and only a brief talk after it.